Search by Colleagues Ends in Death of Simi Officer

An off-duty Simi Valley police officer killed himself early Thursday after more than a dozen of his peers scoured the county for five hours searching for the despondent man, authorities said.

Joseph Loniero, 40, was pronounced dead at Simi Valley Hospital at 5:17 a.m., according to a coroner’s official.

Loniero, a 19-year veteran of the force, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, said Mitch Breese, a deputy county coroner.

The Simi Valley resident shot himself inside his truck, which was parked a few feet away from four or five officers who had followed him to a remote spot on Kuehner Drive, said Sgt. Bob Gardner.

Police Chief Randy Adams, among those searching for Loniero, had just arrived on scene when the shot was fired.

“The department obviously is in a state of shock and grieving the loss of one of our officers who, in a department our size, is considered to be an extended family member,” a somber Adams said Thursday night.

Adams said he was particularly surprised because he had lunch with Loniero Wednesday and the officer, while sad about some personal problems, said he was confident about his future.

Authorities said Loniero did not leave a suicide note, but that he had been having personal problems.

Adams also said that Loniero was demoted from the rank of sergeant to officer in 1996. Loniero had also suffered an injury several years ago that forced him to take temporary leave from the department.

Authorities became aware of a problem about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday when Loniero’s wife called police dispatchers and said she was concerned about her husband, who was not at home, and that she feared that he was possibly suicidal, Gardner said.

Officers reached Loniero on his cellular telephone several times through the night and also sent a sheriff’s helicopter over Frazier Park to search for him after he said he might be there.

A dozen officers, including crisis experts, sergeants and Loniero’s friends, drove throughout the eastern portion of the county searching for him.

About 4:30 a.m., an officer spotted Loniero on the Ronald Reagan Freeway and followed him while he radioed for assistance. Loniero exited at Kuehner Drive and drove north less than a mile before stopping. More officers arrived within seconds.

“There was no communication. The officers tried to talk to him but he ignored them,” Gardner said.

A sheriff’s helicopter was called to the area immediately after Loniero was spotted and eventually transported him to the hospital.

Loniero is survived by his wife, Susan, and two daughters. Funeral arrangements were pending.

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Wolcott is a Times Community News reporter; Dirmann is a Times staff writer.